Diego Armando Maradona: The Day England Witnessed God

6 Jun

Many a revolution has altered the trajectory of mankind. From the moon landing to the scientific revolution, there have been many great achievements that have changed the perception of what humanity is truly capable of. None were as revolutionary as the day Maradona was introduced to the beautiful game.

The enigma that is Maradona can be described as a complex character at best, a life constantly surrounded by controversies, drug scandals and links to organized crime. Every logical segment of your mind instructs you to hold disdain for the man, but to watch Maradona play football speaks joy to your heart. Maradona played football like how you daydreamed as a child, where the impossible became inevitable. He dribbled the ball as if he were on skis, perfectly meandering through defenders like slalom gates with equal parts grace and power. Diego was able to link up play as if he was crafting a beautiful tapestry, with each thread being perfectly woven in order to display ultimate artistry.

To watch Maradona play in a game was not simply just about witnessing greatness, but it was to embark on an odyssey. An odyssey filled with twists and turns but also awe inspiring moments of wonder. No game has ever been such a perfect microcosm to represent a player as the World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England in 1986.

Politics on the Pitch

There is a sufficient correlation between progressing in a tournament and the raising of stakes, but for Argentina the stakes had never been higher. Just four years prior the Falklands war occurred between Argentina and England over the right to the Falkland Islands. The war lasted 74 days and resulted in approximately 1000 casualties, with Argentina suffering the most of these losses. The war ended in defeat for Argentina, leaving a lasting feeling of resentment among many Argentinians.

June 22nd, 1986 was more than just a football match; it was an opportunity for Maradona and the Argentinian national team to restore dignity for their nation in the aftermath of a painful conflict. The emotional weight of that history was etched upon La Albiceleste’s countenances as the Argentinian national anthem ceremoniously blared throughout Estadio Azteca.

The stage was set in the incessant Mexican sun. With the spirit of Che Guevara embedded into his soul, and later on his skin, Maradona was to lead his comrades like a guerrilla war general, unwilling to surrender to the occasion or the opposition. Thus, making what happens next all the more significant.

Hand of God

“Although we had said before the game that football had nothing to do with the Malvinas [Falklands] War, we knew many Argentine boys had died there. And this was a revenge.”

— Diego

The first half was rather uneventful compared to the spectacle that was the second half. It took until the 51st minute for the ball to hit the back of the net, but it was certainly worth the wait.

In the build up to the goal Maradona delicately carved his way through a trio of English opposition before laying the ball to a teammate. The ball was lifted high into the air by Steve Hodge, creating a perfect duel between the Argentine number ten and the English number one. This should have been a routine collection for a keeper as exceptional and experienced as Shilton, especially due to the fact that he stood at 6 foot 1 in comparison to Maradona’s diminutive 5 foot 5. However, the rules of nature ceased to exist as Maradona defiantly leapt through the air and prodded the ball into the net using his secret weapon, la Mano de Dios — the Hand of God.

The stadium erupted as Maradona raced towards the corner flag, urging his compatriots to rejoice in celebration in order to create reasonable doubt around one of the grandest heists in football history.

The English players protested immediately, and the controversy has endured ever since. For many, the goal went against everything the sport claims to represent, appearing to undermine ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. For Argentinians, however, it was often viewed as an act of cunning defiance rather than malice.

In this brief moment Maradona was more than just a player. He became a symbol, not of collective blame, but of national release. For many Argentinians, the goal represented catharsis rather than condemnation.

Goal of the Century

“Maradona has the ball, two mark him, he touches the ball. The genius of world football dashes to the right and leaves the third and is going to pass to Burruchaga. It’s still Maradona! Genius! Genius! Genius! Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta. Gooooooooooal! Gooooooooooal! I want to cry! Dear God! Long live football! Gooooooooooal! Diegoal! Maradona! It’s enough to make you cry, forgive me. Maradona, in an unforgettable run, in the play of all time. Cosmic kite! What planet are you from? Leaving in your wake so many Englishmen, so that the whole country is a clenched fist shouting for Argentina? Argentina 2, England 0. Diegoal, Diegoal, Diego Armando Maradona. Thank you, God, for football, for Maradona, for these tears, for this, Argentina 2, England 0.”

- Victor Hugo Morales

As the world came to terms with one of football’s greatest scandals, Maradona soon bestowed us with the brilliance he was truly capable of. If the Hand of God was a stain on the sport, what followed was its perfect counterbalance.

Just four minutes later Maradona cemented his status as a footballing deity.

Maradona picked up the ball in his own half. His first act was to elegantly pivot between two English defenders, dispatching them with effortless balance and control. He carried the ball into the opposition half as the world held its breath. A third defender was evaded with the faintest feint, a fourth beaten with equal ease. After Maradona had carved through the English defence, all that remained was England’s number one.

Shilton rushed out to narrow the angle, hoping to redeem himself after the earlier incident. But the shot never came. Maradona rounded him and gently rolled the ball into the net, completing a moment that felt inevitable.

The arena erupted as Maradona raced to the corner flag, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what he had just achieved.

The goal of the century will never be done justice through words alone, but the closest attempt remains the live commentary from the Uruguayan journalist Víctor Hugo Morales. As Maradona danced through the pitch, Morales’ tone shifted from narration to disbelief. What began as measured commentary dissolved into something closer to glossolalia, a man struggling to comprehend what he was witnessing.

In that moment, Maradona turned the pitch into a cathedral, not through domination of an opponent, but through the expression of something rare and transcendent.

Conclusion

Maradona’s performance that day was more than football — it was myth-making in real time. In the span of four minutes, he was both sinner and saint, trickster and genius. Whether through cunning or pure, unfiltered brilliance, he delivered a spectacle that would echo through eternity.

For England, it was heartbreak. For Argentina, it was release. For football, it was history. For Maradona, it was immortality.

This article was kindly written for @TFHBs by Ellis Verrinder. For any further enquiries - you can email Ellis -

cosmickite@outlook.com